Pop culture stuff
Oct. 23rd, 2020 09:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. I finished reading or rather listening to Zealot:The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazereth by Reza Aslan. (I listened to it on audible while working on a spreadsheet, making breakfast, and eating - I didn't read it. So I may have missed stuff. Don't know.)
The woman who suggested we all read it for our Bible Study Group, stated, "Shows how the Bible and Jesus were really about socialism and not this capitalistic crap..." [As an aside, I've been struggling with my Bible Study Group and Church for quite some time now - it's become increasingly political when I kind of want a break from it.]
I don't know. I'm not sure you can ascribe socialism and capitalism to people who lived 2000 years ago? I think they had a slightly different economic system back then - clearly not an equitable one, although I'm beginning to think that's impossible. (Humans are too egotistical, greedy and self-absorbed to manage a purely equitable economic system for very long.]
Also, I'm not sure that's what the book is necessarily about.
The book seems to be more of an examination of the differences between historical record and the writings in the bible, and how those writings have been interpreted. Also a heavy critique of the New Testament's focus on the life of St. Paul over Jesus. We get more details on St. Paul's life than Jesus's life or his disciples, when Paul showed up long after Jesus' death. Also, it's very violent. All the characters die gruesome deaths. And the Jews, Romans, and early Christians...all men, do not come out very well.
They seem to have a propensity for killing everyone who disagrees with them or doesn't believe the same way they do. Only to eventually find themselves on the opposite side of that argument, and find people doing it to them. I mean after a bit - I decided the Jews, Romans, Egyptians, Etc - deserved to be bludgeoned to death. They kind of had it coming. (I'm not sure if that was the author's intent - most likely not.)
The author definitely has an agenda, which is my difficulty with theologians posing as historians. Although it could be argued that historians aren't much better - everyone writes or acknowledges the history they wish to be remembered.
That said, I do agree with the author's premise that Jesus and his brother James, and his followers were about equality, equitable economic systems that provided for the poor, shared ownership and wealth or a more communal model - since the current rich vs poor model clearly wasn't working. They were anti-establishment, and to a degree revolutionaries (not clear whether they were non-violent ones, the author seems to be believe they were violent and more zealous in their mission) - both in regards to the Jewish establishment and the Roman establishment.
The book emphasizes that.
Also, I have to admit, I don't like St. Paul either. That's always been my issue with the New Testament, and well most Christian denominations - is I dislike St. Paul, and he's constantly being revered and followed. OR, as I discovered in Martha's Vineyard last year - it may just be how various monks translated St. Paul, and how he was interpreted that annoyed me.
So, the author's critique of the New Testament's glorification of Paul over Jesus, or rather argument that it glorifies Paul over Jesus is legitimate.
For my own part? I see The Bible as a collection of philosophical teachings, historical narrative, parables, and poetry. Some of it is meaningful to me, a lot of it...I kind of handwave or dismiss.
Overall not a bad book. A little...sanctimonious and righteous in places, Aslan kind of rants a bit towards the end. But definitely fascinating.
Curious to see what the Minister thinks of it.
2. NY Times has a list of things to watch on the streaming channels this weekend. There's a lot to watch. Frigging hell, you could get lost.
I'm flirting with:
The Undoing - HBO
Utopia - HBO - David Byrn's concert - which I've been told is available on HBO, not HBO Max
Lovecraft Country - HBO
October Faction - Netflix
The Magicians - Netflix
The Boys in the Band - Netflix
Virgin River - Netflix
The Witch - Netflix
The Dark - Netflix
Black Butler - Netflix
Rest of Teen Wolf - Amazon Prime
Clone Wars - Disney +
Muppets Now - Disney +
If you've anything to rec, let me know.
Off to read and sleep.
The woman who suggested we all read it for our Bible Study Group, stated, "Shows how the Bible and Jesus were really about socialism and not this capitalistic crap..." [As an aside, I've been struggling with my Bible Study Group and Church for quite some time now - it's become increasingly political when I kind of want a break from it.]
I don't know. I'm not sure you can ascribe socialism and capitalism to people who lived 2000 years ago? I think they had a slightly different economic system back then - clearly not an equitable one, although I'm beginning to think that's impossible. (Humans are too egotistical, greedy and self-absorbed to manage a purely equitable economic system for very long.]
Also, I'm not sure that's what the book is necessarily about.
The book seems to be more of an examination of the differences between historical record and the writings in the bible, and how those writings have been interpreted. Also a heavy critique of the New Testament's focus on the life of St. Paul over Jesus. We get more details on St. Paul's life than Jesus's life or his disciples, when Paul showed up long after Jesus' death. Also, it's very violent. All the characters die gruesome deaths. And the Jews, Romans, and early Christians...all men, do not come out very well.
They seem to have a propensity for killing everyone who disagrees with them or doesn't believe the same way they do. Only to eventually find themselves on the opposite side of that argument, and find people doing it to them. I mean after a bit - I decided the Jews, Romans, Egyptians, Etc - deserved to be bludgeoned to death. They kind of had it coming. (I'm not sure if that was the author's intent - most likely not.)
The author definitely has an agenda, which is my difficulty with theologians posing as historians. Although it could be argued that historians aren't much better - everyone writes or acknowledges the history they wish to be remembered.
That said, I do agree with the author's premise that Jesus and his brother James, and his followers were about equality, equitable economic systems that provided for the poor, shared ownership and wealth or a more communal model - since the current rich vs poor model clearly wasn't working. They were anti-establishment, and to a degree revolutionaries (not clear whether they were non-violent ones, the author seems to be believe they were violent and more zealous in their mission) - both in regards to the Jewish establishment and the Roman establishment.
The book emphasizes that.
Also, I have to admit, I don't like St. Paul either. That's always been my issue with the New Testament, and well most Christian denominations - is I dislike St. Paul, and he's constantly being revered and followed. OR, as I discovered in Martha's Vineyard last year - it may just be how various monks translated St. Paul, and how he was interpreted that annoyed me.
So, the author's critique of the New Testament's glorification of Paul over Jesus, or rather argument that it glorifies Paul over Jesus is legitimate.
For my own part? I see The Bible as a collection of philosophical teachings, historical narrative, parables, and poetry. Some of it is meaningful to me, a lot of it...I kind of handwave or dismiss.
Overall not a bad book. A little...sanctimonious and righteous in places, Aslan kind of rants a bit towards the end. But definitely fascinating.
Curious to see what the Minister thinks of it.
2. NY Times has a list of things to watch on the streaming channels this weekend. There's a lot to watch. Frigging hell, you could get lost.
I'm flirting with:
The Undoing - HBO
Utopia - HBO - David Byrn's concert - which I've been told is available on HBO, not HBO Max
Lovecraft Country - HBO
October Faction - Netflix
The Magicians - Netflix
The Boys in the Band - Netflix
Virgin River - Netflix
The Witch - Netflix
The Dark - Netflix
Black Butler - Netflix
Rest of Teen Wolf - Amazon Prime
Clone Wars - Disney +
Muppets Now - Disney +
If you've anything to rec, let me know.
Off to read and sleep.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-25 02:23 pm (UTC)I did watch the David Byrne concert yesterday and think it's worth the watch. I'd also recommend My Octopus Teacher on Netflix -- I think you might relate to it.